Short Summary

King Feisal of Saudi Arabia arrived in Lebanon on Monday (September 28) for a three-day official visit as news reports said relations between the two countries were "at their best".

Description

King Feisal of Saudi Arabia arrived in Lebanon on Monday (September 28) for a three-day official visit as news reports said relations between the two countries were "at their best". He was due later the same day to hold talks on the Middle East situation with President Franjieh. It was King Feisal's first visit to Lebanon since he took the throne in 1964, and VISNEWS cameraman Paul Nazarian was at Beirut airport to film his arrival.

SYNOPSIS: Fighter-aircraft of the Lebanese Air Force escorted an aircraft carrying King Feisal of Saudi Arabia, as it landed at Beirut on Monday. The King, on his first visit to Lebanon since he took the Saudi Arabian throne in 1964, was arriving for a three-day official visit, and Lebanese President Suleiman Franjieh was waiting to greet him. Large crowds and guard of honour were also there, and the King was given a 21-gun salute on his arrival.

Later the same day following the arrival ceremony, King Feisal paid a courtesy call on President Franjieh. The first round of official talk between the two leaders was due to begin the next day, on Tuesday. They were to centre on the general Middle East situation; inter-Arab differences; and relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia....reported on Monday to be now "at their best". The two sides, according to the news reports which quoted courses from both countries, desired to work together on issues facing the Arab world.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon had cooled during the regime of former President Charles Helou mainly over an oil refinery disagreement. Then, President Helou had hesitated in implementing a decision to build a third refinery in Lebanon with joint Saudi Arabian funds. But the new Government of President Franjieh, which came into power a year ago, has since endorsed the decision
According to further news reports from Beirut this week, Lebanese official hope King Feisal's visit will lead to the reactivation of the original trade agreement between the two countries. For the Saudi Arabian Government, disappointed of the oil refinery issue, had refused to renew it in 1969.